If by way of tribute thou amass gold as (though it were) sand, at last it will be left behind thee as an inheritance.
از خراج ار جمع آری زر چو ریگ ** آخر آن از تو بماند مردریگ
Sovereignty and gold will not accompany thy spirit on its journey: give thy gold away, get collyrium for thy sight,
همره جانت نگردد ملک و زر ** زر بده سرمه ستان بهر نظر
In order that thou mayst see that this world is a narrow well, and that, like Joseph, thou mayst grasp that rope,
تا ببینی کین جهان چاهیست تنگ ** یوسفانه آن رسن آری به چنگ
So that, when thou comest from the well (up) to the roof, the Soul will say, “Oh, good news for met This is a youth for me.”
تا بگوید چون ز چاه آیی به بام ** جان که یا بشرای هذا لی غلام
In the well (of this world) there are optical inversions, the least (of which is) that stones appear to be gold.675
هست در چاه انعکاسات نظر ** کمترین آنک نماید سنگ زر
To children at play-time, from infirmity (of mind), those potsherds (with which they play) appear to be gold and riches.
وقت بازی کودکان را ز اختلال ** می‌نماید آن خزفها زر و مال
His (God’s) knowers have become alchemists, so that mines (of gold) have become worthless in their eyes.
عارفانش کیمیاگر گشته‌اند ** تا که شد کانها بر ایشان نژند
How a dervish saw in dream a company of Shaykhs and begged for a daily portion of lawful food (which he should receive) without being occupied with earning (it) and being (thereby) incapacitated from devotional service; and how they directed him, and how the sour and bitter mountain-fruit became sweet to him through the bounty of those Shaykhs.
دیدن درویش جماعت مشایخ را در خواب و درخواست کردن روزی حلال بی‌مشغول شدن به کسب و از عبادت ماندن و ارشاد ایشان او را و میوه‌های تلخ و ترش کوهی بر وی شیرین شدن به داد آن مشایخ
A certain dervish said in the night-talk, “I saw in dream those (saints who are) connected with Khizr.
آن یکی درویش گفت اندر سمر ** خضریان را من بدیدم خواب در
I said to them, ‘Whence shall I (get to) eat a daily portion of lawful food that is not pernicious?’
گفتم ایشان را که روزی حلال ** از کجا نوشم که نبود آن وبال
They took me along towards the mountainous country: they were shaking down the fruit from (the trees in) the forest,680
مر مرا سوی کهستان راندند ** میوه‌ها زان بیشه می‌افشاندند
Saying, ‘God hath made the fruit (to taste) sweet in thy mouth because of our benedictions.
که خدا شیرین بکرد آن میوه را ** در دهان تو به همتهای ما
Come, eat (food that is) clean and lawful, and free of reckoning, without trouble and change of place and (going) up and down.’
هین بخور پاک و حلال و بی‌حساب ** بی صداع و نقل و بالا و نشیب
Then from that daily provision there appeared in me a (gift of) speech: (the spiritual) savour of my words was transporting (the people's) minds.
پس مرا زان رزق نطقی رو نمود ** ذوق گفت من خردها می‌ربود
I said, ‘This is a temptation: O Lord of the world, bestow (on me) a gift hidden from all (Thy) creatures!’
گفتم این فتنه‌ست ای رب جهان ** بخششی ده از همه خلقان نهان
Speech departed from (forsook) me; I gained a joyous heart: I was bursting with rapture, like the pomegranate;685
شد سخن از من دل خوش یافتم ** چون انار از ذوق می‌بشکافتم
I said, ‘If there be naught in Paradise (for me) but this delight which I have within my nature,
گفتم ار چیزی نباشد در بهشت ** غیر این شادی که دارم در سرشت
No other blessing will be desired (by me): I will not be diverted from this (delight) by the houris and sugar-cane (of Paradise).’
هیچ نعمت آرزو ناید دگر ** زین نپردازم به حور و نیشکر
Of my (former) earnings one or two small pieces (of money) had remained with me, sewn in the sleeve of my jubba.
مانده بود از کسب یک دو حبه‌ام ** دوخته در آستین جبه‌ام
How he formed an intention, saying, ‘I will give this money to that carrier of firewood, since I have obtained daily provision through the miraculous gifts of the Shaykhs’; and how the carrier of firewood was offended by his secret thought and intention.
نیت کردن او کی این زر بدهم بدان هیزم‌کش چون من روزی یافتم به کرامات مشایخ و رنجیدن آن هیزم‌کش از ضمیر و نیت او
A poor man was carrying firewood: he approached (me), weary and exhausted, from the forest.
آن یکی درویش هیزم می‌کشید ** خسته و مانده ز بیشه در رسید
So I said (to myself), ‘I am independent of (earning) daily bread: henceforth I have no anxiety for the daily portion.690
پس بگفتم من ز روزی فارغم ** زین سپس از بهر رزقم نیست غم
The loathed fruit has become sweet to me: a special provision for my body has come to hand.
میوه‌ی مکروه بر من خوش شدست ** رزق خاصی جسم را آمد به دست
Since I have been freed from the (cravings of the) gullet, here are some small pieces of money: I will give him these.
چونک من فارغ شدستم از گلو ** حبه‌ای چندست این بدهم بدو
I will give this money to this toil-worn man, that for two or three brief days he may be made happy by food.’
بدهم این زر را بدین تکلیف‌کش ** تا دو سه روزک شود از قوت خوش
He himself was knowing my mind, because his (inward) hearing had illumination from the candle of Hú (God).
خود ضمیرم را همی‌دانست او ** زانک سمعش داشت نور از شمع هو
To him the secret of every thought was as a lamp within a glass.695
بود پیشش سر هر اندیشه‌ای ** چون چراغی در درون شیشه‌ای
No mental conception was hidden from him: he was ruler over the contents of (men's) hearts.
هیچ پنهان می‌نشد از وی ضمیر ** بود بر مضمون دلها او امیر
Therefore that wondrous man was muttering to himself under his breath in answer to my (unspoken) thought,
پس همی منگید با خود زیر لب ** در جواب فکرتم آن بوالعجب
‘Thou thinkest so concerning the (spiritual) kings: how shouldst thou meet (receive) the daily provision unless they provide thee (with it)?’
که چنین اندیشی از بهر ملوک ** کیف تلقی الرزق ان لم یرزقوک
I was not understanding his words, but his rebuke smote my heart mightily.
من نمی‌کردم سخن را فهم لیک ** بر دلم می‌زد عتابش نیک نیک
He approached me with awful mien, like a lion, and laid down his bundle of firewood.700
سوی من آمد به هیبت هم‌چو شیر ** تنگ هیزم را ز خود بنهاد زیر
(Through) the influence of the ecstatic state in which he laid down the firewood, a trembling fell upon all my seven limbs.
پرتو حالی که او هیزم نهاد ** لرزه بر هر هفت عضو من فتاد
He said, ‘O Lord, if Thou hast elect ones whose prayers are blessed and whose feet (comings and goings) are auspicious,
گفت یا رب گر ترا خاصان هی‌اند ** که مبارک‌دعوت و فرخ‌پی‌اند
I entreat that Thy grace may become an alchemist (may work a transmutation) and that this bundle of firewood may be turned into gold at this moment.’
لطف تو خواهم که میناگر شود ** این زمان این تنگ هیزم زر شود
Immediately I saw that his firewood was turned into gold, gleaming brightly on the ground, like fire.
در زمان دیدم که زر شد هیزمش ** هم‌چو آتش بر زمین می‌تافت خوش
Thereat I became beside myself for a long while. When I came to myself (again) out of (that) bewilderment,705
من در آن بی‌خود شدم تا دیرگه ** چونک با خویش آمدم من از وله
He said afterwards, ‘O God, if those great ones (the saints) are very jealous and are fleeing from celebrity,
بعد از آن گفت ای خداگر آن کبار ** بس غیورند و گریزان ز اشتهار
At once, without delay, make this (gold) a bundle of firewood again, just as it was (before).’
باز این را بند هیزم ساز زود ** بی‌توقف هم بر آن حالی که بود
Immediately those branches of gold turned into firewood: the intellect and the sight were intoxicated (amazed) at his (miraculous) work.
در زمان هیزم شد آن اغصان زر ** مست شد در کار او عقل و نظر
After that, he took up the firewood and went from me in hot haste towards the town.
بعد از آن برداشت هیزم را و رفت ** سوی شهر از پیش من او تیز و تفت
I wished to follow that (spiritual) king and ask him about (some) difficulties and hear (his answer);710
خواستم تا در پی آن شه روم ** پرسم از وی مشکلات و بشنوم
(But) the awe (which he inspired) made me (as though I were) bound: the vulgar have no way (admission) to the presence of the elect.”
بسته کرد آن هیبت او مر مرا ** پیش خاصان ره نباشد عامه را
And if the way become (open) to any one, let him offer his head (in utter devotion), for that (admission to their presence) comes from their mercy and their drawing (him towards them).
ور کسی را ره شود گو سر فشان ** کان بود از رحمت و از جذبشان
Therefore, when you gain companionship with the siddíq (true saint), deem that Divine favour (conferred on you) to be a precious opportunity.
پس غنیمت دار آن توفیق را ** چون بیابی صحبت صدیق را
(Do) not (be) like the fool who wins the favour of the King, and then lightly and easily falls away from the path (of favour).
نه چو آن ابله که یابد قرب شاه ** سهل و آسان در فتد آن دم ز راه
When more of (the King's) favour is bestowed on him, then he says, “Surely this is the thigh of an ox.”715
چون ز قربانی دهندش بیشتر ** پس بگوید ران گاوست این مگر
This does not consist of the thigh of an ox, O deviser of falsehood: to you it appears to be the thigh of an ox because you are an ass.
نیست این از ران گاو ای مفتری ** ران گاوت می‌نماید از خری
This is a royal gift devoid of any corruption: this is pure munificence (springing) from a (great) mercy,
بذل شاهانه‌ست این بی رشوتی ** بخشش محضست این از رحمتی
[How Solomon, on whom be peace, urged the envoys to hasten the emigration of Bilqís (from her kingdom) for the Faith’s sake.]
تحریض سلیمان علیه‌السلام مر رسولان را بر تعجیل به هجرت بلقیس بهر ایمان
Even as in (the spiritual) warfare King Solomon drew the cavalry and foot-soldiers of Bilqís (towards him),
هم‌چنان که شه سلیمان در نبرد ** جذب خیل و لشکر بلقیس کرد
Saying, “O honoured men, come quickly, quickly, for the waves have risen from the sea of bounty.
که بیایید ای عزیزان زود زود ** که برآمد موجها از بحر جود
At every moment the surge of its waves is scattering shorewards a hundred pearls without danger (to those who seek them).720
سوی ساحل می‌فشاند بی‌خطر ** جوش موجش هر زمانی صد گهر